Display device



1952 F. w. QUELLE 2,617,501

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 3, 1945 Patented Nov. 11,1952

' UNl'TED STATES PATEgNiT OFFICE FrederickWt Quelle,.Mount Prospect, 111., assignor.

to: Montgomery, Ward & (30.,v Ghicagm..lll.,, a corporation of. Illinois ApplicationDecember 3, 1945', Serial -No."632,-523- 3- Claims; 1

The presentinvention relates to an improvementin-displays; such for exampleas those which beset :up. in a store window; showcase, or

stage. InJ-its fundamental aspects. the invention comprises an ornamental display which can be easily erected in accordance with a predetermined. plan .whoseposition upon the floor of the show win- 'dows,sshow' case-, or stage is maintained by their own weight onwhich are in some manner either secured to the. floor or suspended from the. celling, or-=are otherwise suitably fastened in place. Self-evidently when. erecting such displays the component; parts thereof are subject to marring and partialdestruction. by the necessity of using ias'tening elements such as nails, screws, cleats and; thehlikewhich, upon removal, necessitate the'repair of the objects. At the same time the floonamt ceiling; or other space-defining surfaces of the; show. window, show case or stage are also marred and damaged.

In ordinary stages such as those used in theaters and-gauditoriums, the. stage scenery is often merely suspended. from above, there being no deflnitefupper space-defining surface such as a ceiling; In. most: casesthe scenery-is either provided'iwith'. sufficiently. wide bases to keep it from toppling over or else bases are provided on the side away-from: the beholderto keep it in vertical alignment; 311181; expedient, however, isv space consuming; and: does not permit the placement of the; decorative: display columns: in the extreme backwall or vertical definingsuriace of the show window;- showcase, or stage.

In accordance. with the present invention, however, columnar elements; are provided which are fitted with surface-contacting meanswhich are underthe influence; of spring'pressure so that by the expedient of merely wedging them between,

.for instance the floor andrceiling' ofashow win 21' Accordingly it is -.one-=ofthe obiiectsofrthe invention :to provide a display; comprising. incombination with spaced opposed substantially parallel space-defining surfaces, therebetweendisposed columnar: elements which elements are: of a length which is slightly less. than the distance between thesaid surfaces and which columnar elements are provided with surface-engaging members which serve to bridge theremaining distance between one of the. ends of said columnar elements and the. surface. adjacent. thereto as well as with means .forpressing said member against its adjacent. surface.

A further object of the invention comprises. a display, in. combination'with a fioor and ceiling, consisting essentially of vertically disposed elongated columnar elements of a height that is slightly less than the distance between the floor and ceiling, theseelements being provided at one end with spring-pressed disc-like ceiling. engaging means.

A further object of the invention is to provide individual display members for use in a show window, show case, or stage: which consists of individual columnsofsuita'ble cross section which may be. either round, triangular, quadrangular, or-polygonal, and whichpreferably are so formed that by suitable juxtaposition various ornamental forms may be'produced.

A further object of the invention concerns columnar decorating el'ementswhich maybe hollow, and if desired, provided at least on one wall thereof with light-permeable coverings, or with coverings thatare-suitably foraminous or may have cut awayportions; so as to produce ornamental effects. by. ihumination from within.

A still further object of the: invention is to provide a display-consistingof a combination of'vertically disposed as well as horizontally disposed elements. some of, which .in connection with the vertical elements: will givethe eifectof-"a picture frame-or ofplatior'ms at various stages of elevation relative to the lower space-defining surface such as the.- floor.

G ther objects ofthe present invention will become apparent from. the further detailed description hereinbelow, and-also from a study of the hereunto appended drawings in which:

Figural is a general perspective view of a show window, show case, or stage having lower and upper horizontal space-defining surfaces, a ver tical space-defining surface back of said space and therein disposed columnar elements ofthe type hereinabove; discussed;-

1 F'ig. 2- is a verticalv elevation partly in section showing one end of the columnar elements together with the surface-engaging and pressing means;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the columnar elements With the spring pressed means shown in section along lines 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical view partly in section showing a modification in which the columnar element is hollow and is provided with internal illuminating means;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross section of a slight modification of Fig. 4, showing the means for inserting a transparent or translucent side of a triangular column; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a substantially circular column, showing a plurality of surface-engaging means thereon.

In order to provide th improved display of the present, invention, advantage is taken of the lower space-defining surface, such as the floor I of a show window 2, which is shown in dotted outline, the said show window also having an upper space-defining surface 3 which hereinafter will be referred to as the ceiling while the lower surface i will be hereinafter referred to as the floor. Upon the floor I of the show window illustrated in Fig. 1, there are placed a plurality of vertically extending columnar element 4 which for the sake of illustration are here shown as being substantially equilaterally triangular in cross section, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that particular form which has been chosen for purposes of illustration merely because it represents an element having the least number of possible sides.

It will be self-evident that the cross section need not be equilaterally triangular, but could consist of various configurations, for instance the cross section might be that of an isosceles triangle. These elongated elements 4 may be either solid or may be internally hollow, as will be explained in further detail in connection with the other figures hereinbelow. When for example the columns d are equilaterally triangular in cross section it is possible to assemble them into a hexagonal column broadly indicated by the reference numeral 5 on the left hand side of Figure l, the

column being made up of six congruently erected elongated columns 4. These columns, whose bases rest upon the floor I, are provided at their upper ends with surface-engaging means 6, which can be more readily ascertained from Fig. 2.. Each of the elements 6 is preferably, but not necessarily, in the form of a centrally dished disc which preferably I has rounded edges 1, whose function will be described in connection with the method of use of the display devices. The disc 6 is preferably carried upon a pin 3 which may be slidable within a ferrule 9 which partially extends into the opening II] provided in the upper part of the column 4, the said ferrule also extending for a certain distance in contact with the upper surface of the column 4. A spring I I which surrounds the pin 8 presses with one end against the ferrule 9, and with the other end against the lower surface of the surface-engaging disc 6. A cross pin 8 carried by pin 8 serves to limit outward movement of the latter.

As shown in Fig. 4 the construction can be considerably simplified by merely providing the upper end of the column 4, which in this case is hollow and is composed of three sides numbered respectively 4a,, 4b and 40 (see Figs, 5 and 6) with a suitable plug I2, having an opening through which extends a common bolt I3 at the upper end of which there is mounted a surface-engaging disc 6 which disc is pressed away from the upper surface of the plug I2 by means of the spring I4. The lower or inner end of the bolt I3 is provided with a washer I5 and a cotter pin I6 which prevents the spring I4 from pushing the bolt l3 out of the hole through which it slides. However, by pressing against the disc 6' the bolt I3 may enter a certain distance into the interior of the hollow column 4.

Here again the disc is preferably provided with round edges 7.

In the construction shown in Fig. '7 there are shown two of the surface-engaging members 6 surmounting a column having a circular crosssection. The construction otherwise, however, is the same as that illustrated in Fig. 2, but of course may be constructed as in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

In case the columns are made hollow as shown by Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the walls 4a and do, for example, may be solid and may be made of such material, for example, as pressed wood, card board, plywood, or the like, the third Wall 40 being made of light-permeable material I8, there being interposed in front of it a portion [1, which may be opaque so as to produce an ornamental design When the transparent or translucent side 40 is seen through the openings I9. Within the hollow column there may be one or more elongated electric lamps 26 either of the incandescent or fluorescent variety, which are supplied with electric current through wires 2 I passing through the cable 22. Two of such lamps are shown, but it is self evident that either one or a large number of them may be used according to desire. The lamps have been omitted in connection with Fig. 5, as their presence is of course purely a matter of choice.

Fig. 6 also illustrates the manner of placing a removable side 40 on the column. This side 40 may, for example, consist of an opaque strip of cardboard. Or it may be formed of a transparent or translucent sheet of plastic material such as a cellulose compound, for example, cellulose acetate, or transparent material such as one of the more modern plastics, such as the methacrylate resins. Sheets of this type are easily obtained and are sufficiently distortable so that they may be sprung into place for instance as shown in Fig. 6, the sides of the portions 40 extending into suitable grooves 23 provided at each side of the walls ta and 4b respectively. In Fig. 6 theside 4c is shown as being somewhat curvilinear in cross section, but it is self evident that it may be made of such size that it will produce a flat wall for example as that shown in Fig. 5. Here too the manner of securing the side wall may comprise the aforementioned longitudinally extending notches 23. It is, however, within contemplation of the invention to erect the third side by merely gluing it or nailing it to the other two sides. Self-evidently if the cross section of the columns is other than triangular, suitable changes in putting it together may be necessary, but these are entirely within the skill of any good carpenter or workman, and are therefore not illustrated.

There is a particular advantage, however, in triangular columns particularly if they are equllaterally triangular in cross section, because this makes it possible to produce quite a variety of display effects. As already mentioned, six of these columns may be assembled to form a large hexagonal column 5, as shown in Fig. 1; or a plurality, for instance five, of the triangular members 4, may be assembled as shown in the right of Fig. 1, with their lower ends adjacent to a platform 24 upon which certain displays may be placed, forming as it were a sort of secondary stage within a stage.

Furthermore, a number of columns, such for example as seven of them, may be placed at the extreme back of the stage to form a background. Here again considerable latitude is possible in the arrangement, and a number of arrangements will be self-evident to anyone.

Another effect which may be obtained is for example by erecting two columns at each forward side of, for instance, a show window, in such a manner that the edge of one of the columns will be practically touching or actually touching the glass of the window. There may then be placed between the two members 4 and 4 a horizontally extending member 25, which is suitably mitered at 26 so that when lying upon the floor and touching the two vertical columns 4 and 4, they will give the visual effect of a frame. The overall efiect, for example as shown by Fig. 1, is that of a frame showing a sort of stage with a secondary stage 24 thereon.

By supplying the window dresser with a suitable floor plan which may be either on a full scale or on a suitably reduced scale showing the loci of the various columns, it is possible for a central office to send out to its branch ofiices and stores, which may be in various locations about the city or country, a master plan which enables the various window dressers all to dress the window in a definitely predetermined manner. All that is necessary is for the window dressers to take the vertical columns 4 and to place them in a vertical position in such a manner that the surface engaging disc 6 will press against the ceiling, being pressed thereagainst by the springs l I or M. This can be simply done by up-ending the columns 4, the round edge I preventing the marring and scratching of the ceiling. It will, of course, be self-evident to a good mechanic that the distance between the top of the columns 4 and the upper space-defining surface 3 must be greater than the diameter of the columns so that they will not wedge edgewise when they are being erected. Ordinarily a spacing of from 4" to 6" has been found to be ample.

Columns are therefore wedged between the floor l and the ceiling 3 and therefore cannot fall down or be pulled out of place. If it is desired to move them to change their position, it is not necessary to lay them down again as a workman may grasp the column, pull it up against the ceiling, and then move it in either direction, and then let it back down on the floor, when again it will remain in place without danger of being upset. Inasmuch as most stages, show cases, and show windows have an upper transom or valance this will conceal the surfaceengaging members 6 from the view of the beholder. This therefore will in nowise detract from the effectiveness of the display. The columns of course may be made up of various types of materials, and may be decorated to suit. Thus,

they may be either black or white, or any color, or of a metallic effect, or in case they are transparent, may be illuminated with any desired color of light. Moreover, if a translucent or transparent light-permeable side is used, such as 40, this may if desired be of any color or even may be so constructed that it will appear black to the eye but will transmit ultraviolet or infrared light, which former may be used to very great advantage by disposing upon the floor I, or otherwise within the space, objects which will become fluorescent upon the influence thereon of ultraviolet light. Very striking displays can thus be produced and all these various advantages and modifications are to be construed as within the contemplation of the inventor, and to be within the scope and purview of hisclaims. The invention is not limited to the precise construction shown and any surface-engaging means which will produce the eifect or perform the function of the surface-engaging members 6 and springs II are to be considered as within the scope of the hereunto appended claims.

Accordingly applicant claims:

1. A display comprising a plurality of individually erected and contiguously erected vertically disposed columns having equilaterally triangular cross-sections and erectable between a floor and a ceiling, said columns being sufiiciently shorter than the distance between said floor and ceiling to permit tipping into place and provided at their ends with outwardly automatically spring-biased surface-engaging members having smooth rounded edges to prevent disfiguration of the surfaces against which they are slidingly pressed, the over-all length of said columns plus the springbiased members being greater than the distance between said floor and ceiling, whereby said columns will be kept in place after erection by virtue of the pressure asserted against said surfaces by said surface-engaging members.

2. A display as defined in claim 1 in which six of said columns are arranged with two longitudinal surfaces of each column in contact with corresponding surfaces of adjacent columns to eventuate a larger column hexagonal in crosssection.

3. A display as defined in claim 1 in which a number of said columns are arranged with their longitudinal edges in contact.

FREDERICK W. QUELLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 319,576 Griesser June 9, 1885 998,814 Turton July 25, 1911 1,256,645 Barnett Feb. 19, 1918 1,492,327 Keppler Apr. 29, 1924 1,706,470 Swanson Mar. 26, 1929 1,716,625 Dawson June 11, 1929 1,865,868 Lowy July 5,1932 2,021,347 Bailey Nov. 19, 1935 2,145,030 Press Jan. 24, 1939 2,181,938 Fine Dec. 5, 1939 

